Fishing

Fall fishing took a hard U-turn on Brunswick County last week. The fantastic Spanish mackerel fishing has slowed, the sharks have been picky on what they’ve been wanting to eat and king mackerel fishing could be compared to watching paint dry. This week has been tough to say the least but it is only a matter of time before the fishing flame rekindles and fall fishing truly begins for Brunswick County.

The weather and fishing is changing rapidly now. Large schools of baitfish have moved into our area and some large predator fish are following them. Everything is migrating south or to deeper water for the winter. Flounder, black drum and redfish are all starting to feed more aggressively with each passing day as the water starts to cool. It is time to go fishing.

Every year, a cool, crisp north wind begins to blow in Brunswick County. The air becomes lighter, pumpkins appear on doorsteps and you can bet that a big king mackerel will be caught off Ocean Crest Pier. For some, these seasonal characteristics indicate that leaves will need to be picked up and Halloween costumes will need to be picked out. However, most Brunswick County fishermen know the leaves are not going anywhere and his or her costume will include a good pair of rubber boots and fishing bibs. It is safe to say fall is almost here.

When most people think of Labor Day weekend, they imagine boat rides, beach outings and refreshing beverages on a typically warm summer day. These folks assume they are getting the full Brunswick Island experience, yet the real excitement is coming from the incredible fishing just a few hundred yards off the beach.

In a few of my recent columns, I have stated that fishing in Brunswick County can be world class one day and absolutely unbearable the next. Months such as May and October, for example, will often test this theory because of the great the fish bite. However, August is a month that always holds true to this theory.

> MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission postponed action on proposals
for Southern Flounder management that had been scheduled for last week’s meeting.
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> During last week’s meeting, the board received a letter from N.C. Department of